Just a Smile or Two

 Children in Church

       A little boy was attending his first wedding.
    After the service, his cousin asked him,
    "How many women can a man marry?"
    "Sixteen," the boy responded.
    His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly.
   "How do you know that?" "Easy," the little boy said.
    "All you have to do is add it up, like the pastor said,
    4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer."



                  After a church service on Sunday morning, a young boy suddenly announced to his mother, "Mom, I've decided to become a minister when I grow up."
  "That's okay with us, but what made you decide that?"
  "Well," said the little boy, "I have to go to church on Sunday anyway, And I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell, than to sit and listen."

 A 6-year-old was overheard reciting the Lord's Prayer at a church service, "And forgive us our trash passes, as we forgive those who passed trash against us."


 A little girl became restless as the preacher's sermon dragged on and on. Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, "Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?"


Ms. Terri asked her Sunday School class to draw pictures of their favorite Bible stories.
She was puzzled by Kyle's picture, which showed four 
people on an airplane, So she asked him which story it was meant to represent. "The Flight to Egypt ," was his reply. Pointing at each figure,Ms. Terri said,
"That must be Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus.
But who's the fourth person?"
"Oh, that's Pontius - the pilot!"

The Sunday School Teacher asks,
"Now, Johnny, tell me frankly do you say prayers before eating?"
"No ma'am," little Johnny replies, I don't have to.
My mom is a gooood cook."

                  


A little girl was sitting on her grandfather's lap as he read her a bedtime story. From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. She was alternately stroking 
her own cheek, then his again. Finally she spoke up, "Grandpa, did God make you?" "Yes, sweetheart," he answered, "God made me a long time ago."
 "Oh," she paused, "Grandpa, did God make me too?"
"Yes, indeed, honey," he said, "God made you just a little while ago."
Feeling their respective faces again, she observed,
"God's getting better at it, isn't he ?"


                  


               

Attitude

A young mother writes:
I have been struggling with an issue with my 9 year old.   It seems that whenever something doesn't go her way, whether I don't give her an answer she wants, if she hurts herself, or she drops something (anything inconvenient really..) she gets really frustrated and starts stomping her feet, or slamming things, and it's very obvious by her facial expressions and grunting noises that she is frustrated. I don't understand why she seems to have pent up anger and I have no idea how to teach her to control these emotions. Honestly when she gets like that (which is many times a day) I get frustrated at her. I don't know what to do and it's been going on for a few weeks. She doesn't seem to be having any problems with friends at school. Do you have any suggestions? I have no idea what to do and what I have done doesn't work. 


I have actually spoken about this method of discipline a number of times.  It works in many different types of situations.
This young lady needs to be sat down and spoken to.   Take her out for dinner, for a drive or just something out of the ordinary.  You want to "get her attention" when the problem is not happening.


Let me paint a scenario.
In the morning before school.  "Judy, when you get home today we are going to go out for an ice cream".  (taking the child off guard)
"why mom? "  
"Just cause I would like to treat you".


After school the time comes to go.  You sit down with your ice cream and chat a little about the day.
Eventually  you say, " I have to apologize for something.  ( again out of the ordinary and peaks the child's interest)
"I have been noticing over the last couple of weeks that you have been having a hard time controlling your anger.  You stomp, pout etc etc".  
Give a few present examples.
"Judy I want to apologize because I have let you get away with this behavior.  I hoped that it would go away but I can see it is only happening more.   I'm sorry that I have let it go on so long.  I stand before the Lord in my discipline of you and presently it has not been a pretty picture and I have been "allowing" it.


Will you forgive me?


I have never heard the child say no.


I just want you to know that this behavior is going to end.  I am not going to stand for it any longer.  You are much too old to be handling your frustration in this manner.  You are no longer a toddler.  You are growing up.  I don't think you act this way at school or anywhere other than at home...am I correct?


Then talk about some options on how to handle frustration etc.  
1.Go to your room.  
2.Take a little walk


Talk to her about how it looks when you get frustrated at work etc..what do you do?   Paint good examples...let her share as well and give her ideas.  
Pray with her 


Then talk about the consequences that are going to be put in place for not handling it correctly .  
1. Being sent to her room,  
2. Going to bed early,  
3. having another privilege taken away. etc.


The next part is the MOST IMPORTANT.

You MUST FOLLOW THRU ~  EVERYTIME!!!!

If you want to chat more about this email me!
Blessings!

Hopeless

‎"A person's hope is deadened when nothing she does is

 good enough, or when all her choices, no matter what they

 are, are used to punish her." - dan allender 




I read this on facebook today.  It made me feel sad even reading it.


Do you realize how easy this is to do to a child (or anyone for that matter)?


I honestly don't feel like I need to write any more.  


I ask you to read this statement a number of times and see if it applies to you  and or your situation at all   


and if so 


GET HELP


Blessings!

Only a Click A Way

Recently I was in conversation with a young woman who's child googled something quite innocent only to be pulled into the dark recesses of the black hole and hideous sphere of the Internet.  The child is far from a teenager.
Parent please don't wait to put a safe guard on your computers.  If your child is using them for any amount at all the temptation is TOO GREAT and the availability of pornography etc is just a click away.


We cannot be ignorant any longer!


The money you spend on this safe guard is much cheaper than years of counsel and family strife.
Please make sure that your child is in your sight when on the computer and check the history of the computer often.  Stay alert and be intentional and ask questions.




Pure eyes:
http://www.puresight.com/child-internet-safety2.html?gclid=CMa_mLqwva4CFYio4Aodmk4HuA


Action Alert
http://www.actionalert.com/landing4?rkg_id=c-318740790_h-e64de79e4932edf98e73952c49c40f81_t-1330319145&gclid=CJeF9YCxva4CFULe4


Family Life Today recommends:
http://www.familylife.com/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dnJHKLNnFoG&b=6580043&ct=11231607


Focus on the Family
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/protecting_your_family/preparing_your_child_for_the_online_world.aspx
and
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/topicinfo/Internet_Safety_-_Building_Character_and_Building_Walls.pdf


Safe Eyes
http://www.internetsafety.com/press-internet-safety-solution-safe-eyes.php


Blessings on you and yours!

Reinforce Your Marriage

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view.
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How to Avoid 11 "Great Marriage Killers"

Dr. Dobson's latest newsletter is now available online at drjamesdobson.org!

Earlier this month we enjoyed Valentine's Day, a day set aside for the celebration of romantic love. We hope you and your spouse relished this opportunity to affirm your undying affection and commitment. In his letter this month, Dr. Dobson flips the coin over and shares insight and great advice on how to avoid the "Great Marriage Killers."

We encourage you to spend a few moments to learn how to protect your sacred relationship from:

- Over-commitment and physical exhaustion.
- Excessive credit and conflict over how money will be spent.
- Selfishness.
- And more!

Simply click here to read and download this entire message.
 http://links.myfamilytalk.mkt4124.com/ctt?kn=5&ms=Mzc3NjIzMAS2&r=Mjc5MjI2MDY3NQS2&b=2&j=Mzg2MzEwMjYS1&mt=1&rt=0

5 Love Languages of Children

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/popups/media_player.aspx?LatestDaily=1

Please listen to this half hour long Focus on the Family broadcast and see what you can glean!

Blessings on your MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD!

Blessings!

10 ways to love your kids

I thought that this article sent by a friend was worth passing along
Blessings!


David Philobes is located in Phoenix.  Originally from Egypt, he is pastoring an Arabic
Christian Church.

1) Eagerly, humbly submit to the Word of God.

 When you sin in front of your children, confess it. When you assert your authority over them, your children should clearly see the authority that you are submitting to. Your submission to God is your qualification to teach them. Let them see it, and they will know that you aren’t a petty tyrant.

2) Don’t pigeonhole your children.

Seemingly harmless things like calling your children “the artistic one,” “the athletic one,” or “the loving one” can make your children feel like their value to you is tied up in one characteristic. It can further invite sibling rivalry and resentments. Moreover, sets you up to stop trying to learn about them, as you begin to interpret everything through that expectation and sets them up to think that that's the only part of them you appreciate.

3) Discipline biblically.

When you discipline, make sure it has a biblical category. A godly parent can't discipline for “being annoying,” “making a mess,” or “squirming.” Instead, look to correct disobeying, lying, or something that you can support with Scripture, Proverbs and Ephesians in particular. If there isn’t a biblical principle and name behind it, don’t discipline for it.

4) Set clear expectations.

Explain to your children in advance what you expect from them and what they can expect from you. Make sure they understand. This will greatly aid you in #3, as well as giving them the security of knowing what you want.

5) Recognize obedience.

Talk to your children when you aren’t correcting them. Talk about the things they do right. Tell them about specific things that you love about them. Let them know that you know them, that you think of them, and that you enjoy them.

6) Listen to the whole story first.

With little kids you actually might have to take some time to get the story out. Don’t try to hustle past your children in an effort to quickly discipline them. The discipline is for their benefit, not yours. Make sure that they understand and that they know you are interacting with them.

7) Honor your spouse in front of them.

Show love to each other in front of your children. Don't be short, snarky, or snide with each other in their presence (or out of it for that matter). Children need to see Mom and Dad as one. Parents in fellowship with each other is one of the most basic elements for a secure home.

8) Don’t change your behavior toward your children in public.

Don’t correct them for things just because someone is watching. Security for a child means knowing that their parent is for them, and that when one of them corrects the child, it is for his or her benefit, and not so that others will think the parents have it all together.

9) Don’t take your children’s sins as a personal insult.

Never discipline with a break in fellowship. Don’t be “mad” at your children. Be anxious to have things reconciled.

10) Forgive. For real.

If breaking the window has been forgiven, act like it. Forget it. Do not hold past incidents over your children, especially if you've told them you've forgiven them. Let it go all the way, every time, “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12).